Armor



May 19, 1942. A. BAK 2,283,484

i ARMOR l Filed June 25, 1941 l; ,EZ

Patented May 19, 1942 iiii'i STATES PATENT EJFACE ARMOR Andrew Bak, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 23, 1941, Serial No. 399,305v

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to` armors and has for its principal object the provision of an armor consisting of a plurality of cushioned plates which may yield under an impact of a missile for the purpose of absorbing the shock when hit thereby.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an armor of the character indicated and which may include a plurality of cushioned, yieldable plates which may be interconnected so that when one or more plates are struck by a missile, the adjacent contiguous plates may likewise yield so as to distribute the shock of a missile and thereby decrease its effect.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an armor including a plurality of armor plates, with means to absorb the shock of an impact of a missile striking one or more of said armor plates, and perpendicularly with respect to said armor plates, with means to distribute the force of an impact of a missile striking one or more of said armor plates to the adjacent plates.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an armor consisting of a plurality of armor plates which are readily replaceable when destroyed or damaged by a missile.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing forming a part of this application, and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view of a vessel, illustrating on one side thereof the armor, constituting the subject matter of the present application, when in an operative position; 1

Fig. 2 is an elevational face view of the armor;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view online 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring in detail to the present drawing there is shown a vessel, including its side wall Ill. Welded, or otherwise rigidly affixed to the outer face of said wall I is a plurality of spaced and vertically arranged guide rails II, each of which adjacent its lower end, and at its web portion is provided with stop I2. Receivable within each pair of guide rails II is a vertical row of base plates I3, the lowermost of which, resting on stops I2, supports the uppermost in a stationary arranged position.

Each of said base plates I3 is of a substantially square formation and adjacent each corner carries socket I4 which is vwelded or otherwise rigidly affixed thereto. Each of said sockets I4 has a compression spring I5, which normally presses and bears against plunger head I6, the latter being rigidly affixed to a plunger rod I1. Nut cap I8 positioned over the outer end of socket I4 and in -a threaded engagement therewith, and through which plunger rod Il extends, maintains plunger head I6 within socket I4, spring l5 normally urging said plunger head I6 towards cap I8. Plunger head I6 is slightly spaced from the adjacent inner periphery of socket I4, and plunger rod Il is slightly spaced from the adjacent body portion of nut cap I8 so as to provide tolerance therebetween for the purpose of permitting slight angular movements hof said plunger rod Il in all directions for the purpose hereinafter stated,

Co-operating with each base plate I3 is a spaced and forwardly positioned armor plate IS, which on its inner face is provided with rigidly formed and inwardly extending studs 20. The several studs 20 upon each of plates I9 remain in alignment with sockets I4. The free end of each of said studs 20 is provided with an inwardly threaded bore 2|, while the centermost body portion of said stud 20 and adjacent plate I9 is scooped to effect a socket within which ball 22 is receivable for positioning. Receivable in a threaded engagement within said bore 2| is a reduced threaded en d of boss 23, which is provided with a central transverse bore 24, which outwardly flares at each of its ends. By one of its ends, said bore 24 partially receives ball 22, and in conjunction with the scooped out body portion of stud 20 forms a complement for a socket within which ball 22 is seated. Bore 24 is spaced away from plunger rod II, and its opposite end is outwardly iiaring, for the purpose of permitting angular shifting of plate I9 without interference with said plunger rod Il.

The socket for ball 22, effected by said stud 20 and boss 23 is larger than the diameter of ball 22 so as to provide a. tolerance therebetween for permitting movement of ball 22 within said socket when plate I9 angularly shifts with respect to plunger rod I1 as will be hereinafter described.

The outer end of plunger rod I'I is threaded as at 25 which is receivable within a correspondingly threaded bore made in ball 22, land whereby said ball 22 may rigidly engage and be afxed to said plunger rod I1. y

In assembling, when ball 22 is disengaged from plunger rod I1, nut cap I8 is placed over said plunger rod I1 extending the same over the free end of said plunger rod I1. When said nut cap I8 is engaged over socket I4, as seen in Fig. 4, thereupon boss 23 is placed upon said plunger rod I1 extending it over the free end 0f the latter, and thereupon ball 22 is aixed to said plunger rod I1. When ball 22 is placed in position within semi-socket within stud 20, then boss 23 is placed in its operative position in threaded engagement with said stud 20.

From the hereinabove description it will be seen that normally each of said armor plates I9 remains in a parallel position with respect to its co-operating base plate I3, plunger rod I1 and tensioning cushion springs I5 tending to maintain the former in a uniformly parallel spaced position with respect to base plates I 3.

VWhen under an impact of a torpedo, projectile or other missile, plates I9 will yield and shift towards base plates I3, and against the tension of springs I5, balls 22 Within studs 20, forming a sort of universal joints, will permit angular movement of plates I9 with respect to plunger rod I1. Plunger heads I6 and plunger rods I1, being spaced from sockets I4 and nut caps I8, respectively, may likewise slightly angularly shift with respect to their co-operating sockets I4 and base plates I3. 'I'hus when under an impact of a missile, plate I9 may assume a range of positions with respect to base plate I3. Fig. 3 points to pressure exerted by a missile upon two adjacent plates I9 at their meeting edges, showing the resultant angular shifting of the two plates with respect to their `co-operating base plates I3. This shifting is facilitated due to loose connection of plunger rod I1 with socket I4 by one of its ends, and with stud 20 at the opposite end.

To further minimize and absorb the shock of a missile, the plurality of armor plates I 9 are interconnected vertically and horizontally. Alternate plates I9 in staggered relation, both vertically and horizontally, are provided at theirv edges with marginal enlargements 2S, each in turn provided with a longitudinal recess 21 for receiving there. within marginal portion of plain plate I9 which is devoid of said marginal enlargements 29, as is clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Said recesses 21 are wider than the width of said plates I9 so as to provide loose connection between all of said plates I9 and permit free play when the change Arrow in of position occurs due to shifting of any one or more of said plates I9 due to shock or impact of a missile, as is clearly seen in Fig. 3.

From the hereinabove description it will be seen that all of the armor plates I9 are interconnected by virtue of said marginal enlargements 26 on some of the said plates, by virtue of which arrangement the shock of an impact of a missile at one or more of the said plates will be distributed to the adjacent plates to thereby decrease the force of an impact.

By virtue of the fact that base plates I3 are arranged and positioned within guide rails II, said base plates I3 are readily removable therefrom. Thus, if one or more of armor plates I9 should become damaged or destroyed, the same may be readily replaced by removing base plate I3,including all of its assembly from guide rails II.

It is further observed that the armor herein shown and described may be used for protection of ships, forts, pill boxes and other military objects.

While there is described herein a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is neven theless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. An armor comprising a plurality of armor plates arranged in a contiguous formation for providing a continuous armored surface, and marginal enlargements in the staggered alternate plates, said enlargements being provided with longitudinal marginal recesses for receiving therewithin marginal portions of the adjacent armor plates devoid of said marginal enlargements, whereby the impact of a missile received at one of said plates may be distributed among the adjacent plates.

2. In an armor a base plate, an armor piate in a spaced relation therewith, a supporting member, resilient means interposed between said base plate and said supporting member for absorbing l of sho-ck of an impact of a missile striking at said armor plate, a spherical member carried by said supporting member, and a socket carried by said armor plate, said spherical member being seated within said socket, said spherical member and said socket constituting swivelled connection between said supporting member and said armor plate permitting angular yielding of said armor plate with respect to Ysai-d base plate at an` impact of a missile at said armor plate.

ANDREW BAK. 

